Amavi: I'll fight to be a favourite at Villa Park
New boy Jordan Amavi has expressed his desire to become a fans's favourite at Villa – as Christian Benteke's exit looms ever nearer.
Benteke was this morning set to complete a medical ahead of his proposed £32.5million move to Liverpool.
Boss Tim Sherwood has already invested some of the cash from the sale of the 24-year-old Belgium striker to sign 21-year-old left-back Amavi from Nice for a fee believed to be in the region of £9million.
A France under-21 international, Amavi has set his sights firmly on success in the Premier League.
"I want to play well for this football club," he said. "I am determined to do that. I want to make rapid progress. I will be a decisive player. I want to make a big bond with the supporters. I want them to be proud of me as a football player.
"The supporters are vital. I am the sort of person who has his photo taken with them or signs autographs. I take that seriously. It's important because fans mean a lot to every football club.
"On the pitch, I want to connect and be a fan favourite. I will bring my combative nature to the side.
"I will fight for them every single match. Hopefully they will enjoy that."
Amavi and fellow new boy Idrissa Gueye joined up with their Villa team-mates for the first time yesterday as Sherwood prepares his squad for tonight's friendly at Swindon, their first pre-season encounter on British soil.
Gueye, who joined from Lille earlier this month, is also keen to make a good impression. "I chose here because Villa is a big club and has given me the opportunity to play in England," explained the Senegalese international.
Meanwhile, reports suggest Villa have enquired about signing Emmanuel Adebayor on a season-long loan from Spurs.
